Earl Frederick McKinney was born December 25, 1933 in Grayson, KY and died January 15, 2024 at his home in Lexington, KY. He was the son of the late Fred and Mary Magalene McKinney.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Hobbs McKinney, Brothers Fred Lewis McKinney, age 2; Oral and wife Betty McKinney, Franklin, OH; Harold Dean McKinney, Ashland, KY; sister Opal Inez (Hootie) Hall, Grayson, KY; brother and sister in law Charlie and Lynda Hollon, Lexington, KY; son Jeffrey Van McKinney, Versailles, KY; daughter and son in law Lynda Gayle and Gregory Williams, Alexandria, KY.
Survivors include children Jill D. Jones (Robbie), Lexington, KY; Keith F. McKinney, Louisville, KY; Paige Torres, Hollywood, FL; sister in law Barbara McKinney, Ashland, KY; brother in law Darryl Hobbs (Jane), Trenton, OH; daughter in law Pam McKinney, Versailles, KY. Earl leaves behind 14 grandchildren: Blayre (Jeremy) Worley; Kyle (Lisa), Katie, and Matt McKinney; Susan Williamson, Madison, and Conner Jones (Bryan Parks); Alyssa Wolf, Keith Jr, Casey, and Taylor McKinney; Sebastian (Alexandria), Tabitha, and Victoria Torres, and 8 great grandchildren: Parker and Carter Williamson, Amelia, Violet, and Nora McKinney; Silas McKinney; Zara and Eleanor Wolf and many nieces and nephews.
Earl graduated in 1952 from Prichard High School, Grayson, KY. After 2 years at the University of Kentucky, he left UK and he and Carolyn worked on the Portsmouth Ohio Atomic Energy Plant for 2 years. He returned to UK and graduated in 1958 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for E.I. Dupont Corp, Armco Steel Corp, Chemetron Corp, Mason & Hanger-Silas Mason Co., and Jerrico, Inc. before starting his own company Hamill and McKinney Architects and Engineers, Inc., Earl F. McKinney PE in 1978.
Earl was registered in 49 states, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. His company A & E Designers, Inc. completed 81 restaurant chains throughout the US, retail stores and shopping center chains, 23 hotel/motel chains, as well as 8 international project designs in Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Lebanon, England, Malaysia, and Dunstable. He was also the owner of Cadd Printing Company. Carolyn and Earl traveled extensively, visiting 46 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America. Earl was an avid UK basketball fan, a UK Fellow, and a KY Colonel.
He was a member of the Lambda Chi Fraternity and as an alumnus, he helped with the renovation of the chapter house at UK. He served on the board of directors for Central Bank for 3 years and was an Assistant Boy Scout Director for 10 yrs for the Armco Steel Troop in Ashland, KY. Earl was the City Commissioner for Ashland from 1968-1969 and a member of the Shriners in Ashland and Lexington. He also obtained a basic pilot license and was a longtime member of Southland Christian Church.
Services will be by Brewster McLeod. Visitation 5pm -9pm at Milward-Southland, 391 Southland Drive, Lexington, on Monday, January 22, 2024. Funeral services held Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 10:00 a.m. at Milward-Southland in Lexington. Burial will be at the Lexington Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to McLeod’s Coffee House at 376 Southland Dr., Lexington, KY 40503 or Southland Christian Church, 5001 Harrodsburg Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356. www.milwardfuneral.com.
